Exploring the Relationship between Dietary Self-Monitoring with a Mobile App and Weight Change

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Approximately 70% of the adult population in the United States has overweight or obesity and increased risk for developing chronic diseases. Dietary self-monitoring adherence using a paper diary is associated with weight loss; however, few studies have examined this association with dietary self-monitoring apps. Objectives: 1) explore if an association exists between app-based dietary self-monitoring and weight change among adults with overweight or obesity and 2) explore the relationships between the frequency, consistency, and completeness of self-monitoring and weight change.<strong> Methods:</strong> Participants self-monitored dietary intake for 8 weeks using the app <em>Calorie Counter</em> by <em>FatSecret</em>. Participants were assigned a daily calorie goal to achieve a one-pound weight loss per week. Frequency was measured by the percentage of days that any self-monitoring occurred; consistency was the recording of any dietary intake on ≥ 3 days each week; completeness was the recording of ≥ 50% of the weekly calorie goal. Data were analyzed with paired sample t-test and linear regression. <strong>Results:</strong> The sample [<em>N</em> = 90, mean (<em>M</em>) age = 42 ± 10 years (<em>SD</em>)] was employed (100%), primarily female (96.7%), White (90%), and married (63.3%) with a Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree (60%). A significant mean difference [<em>t</em> (89) = 6.59, <em>p</em> < .001] was found between baseline and 8-week weight (<em>M</em> = -3.26 ± 4.70 lbs.). Linear regression analysis revealed a significant association [<em>F</em> (1, 88) = 7.18, <em>p</em> = .009] between total weeks of consistently self-monitoring (<em>M</em> = 4.44 ± 2.77) and percent weight loss (<em>M</em> = -1.54% ± 2.26%); a significant association (<em>F</em> (1, 88) = 6.42, <em>p</em> = .013] was also found between the frequency of self-monitoring (<em>M</em> = 50.14% ± 33%) and percent weight loss. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> Results suggest that consistent and frequent app-based dietary self-monitoring is associated with weight loss. Clinicians may wish to emphasize these aspects of self-monitoring when providing weight loss counseling. Future research should investigate if less stringent self-monitoring requirements, such as three days per week, support self-monitoring adherence and weight change.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

One-year Embargo

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nursing

Year dc:date.available

2020

Author dc:creator

• Payne, Jason

Contributors dc:contributor

• Melanie Turk
• Melissa Kalarchian
• Christine Pellegrini

• Self-monitoring
• Weight loss
• App
• Adherence
• Diet
• mHealth
• Mobile phone
• eHealth
• Obesity
• Nutrition
• Behavioral Medicine
• Community Health
• Community Health and Preventive Medicine
• Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition
• Family Medicine
• Family Practice Nursing
• Preventive Medicine
• Primary Care
• Public Health and Community Nursing

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1895

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dsc.duq.edu:etd-2905